AFRIKA KORPS 

DESCRIPTION

"Panzer II Tank"
This is a re-release of AK030 Panzer II Tank only this time it's just the tank... no Italian soldiers with it.

"Afrika Korps Newsreel Crew"
Rommel (and Goebbels) always recognized the value of good publicity for the folks back home. Here a standing, mike in hand, German War Correspondent makes his report. Filming nearby is his cameraman complete with movie camera on tripod.

"NEW Machine Gun Crew"
Watched over by a kneeling NCO this MG34 gunner and a rifleman put down some "heavy fire" on the enemy.

"Rifle Section"
Two AK riflemen in action.

"Attack Group"
Firing his Schmeisser Machine Pistol from the hip this NCO also gives out orders to a kneeling, firing rifleman.

"ROMMEL'S DESERT TAXI"
During the war in North Africa, Erwin Rommel believed in being in as many places as he could, in meeting as many of his men and commanders as possible and seeing for himself what the situation was really like... either in or behind the frontline.
He made ample use of the Luftwaffe's resources to get him all over the battlefield and his command.
Among his most useful "Desert Taxis", as he often referred to them, was the Messerschmitt 108 "Taifun". Designed and developed in the 1930's by Willy Messerschmitt this little 4-seater was the fore runner of the world-famous Me.109 fighter.
Our Afrika Korps versions is in typical worn and weathered Luftwaffe tropical paint scheme of dark mottle over sand colour. Through the clear canopy you can see a fully detailed cockpit.
Outside stand Rommel's personal pilot and a brand-new portrait study of the great Field Marshall himself.
Just 999 of "Rommel's Desert Taxi" will be available and it comes in its own special box with individually numbered leaflet.

"Water Set"

Two Afrika Korps take a well-earned and thirsty "water break".

"Soldier drinking from the Jerry Can"
Water is always a precious and life-giving necessity in the desert... Here this AK trooper drinks his fill.

"Fuel Transporter"
Another bare-chested Afrika Korps soldier brings up some much-needed fuel for a vehicle.

SPECIAL NOTE: German Forces in North Africa (and elsewhere) were always careful to mark their "jerry cans" with a white cross (to denote drinkable water)... Everything else in a jerrycan was definitely some kind of fuel.

"Field Marshal Albert "Smiling Albert" Kesselring"
This senior officer was one of Hitler's best and most able commanders. Never a Nazi himself he could just as easily command an air fleet in Goring's Luftwaffe or a whole army fighting in the field. A superb organizer and tactician his reputation for good humour and common sense won him a special place in the hearts of the men he commanded.

In November 1941 he was given control of "Luftwaffe Sud'... the Southern Command of the Luftwaffe with responsibility for Italy, Sicily, Greece and North Africa. Under his leadership Rommel received more aerial supplies and additional aircraft. He visited the North African front on several occasions.

He died in 1960.

"Leutnant Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt"
This officer, holding his life jacket, was a member of the Luftwaffe's most famous fighter squadron in North Africa "Jagdgeschwader 27", (JG27 for short). During his short career he shot down 59 British aircraft in the desert.

"Leutnant Gunter Steinhausen"
Steinhausen is taking a break from flying duties and is in the control tower for a few hours. This ace shot down 40 British aircraft (mostly Hurricanes and P40 Tomahawks) before being himself shot down by an RAF Desert Air Force Spitfire. He also flew with JG27.

"Desert Dispatch Rider"
Bringing the latest orders and instructions from Afrika Korps Headquarters.

"AK rifleman in Greatcoat marching"
Wearing the AK desert brown coat and carrying his K98 Mauser this infantryman trudges across the sand.

"AK rifleman in Greatcoat on Guard Duty"

"AK rifleman in Greatcoat marching"
An alternative (or addition) to AK067.

"AK Feldwebel marching"
Another marching figure with shouldered MP40 "Schmeisser" and... a determined look.

"Hans-Joachim (Jochen) Marseille & his Bf 109"
"The Star of Africa" and, according to fellow German Air Ace General Adolf Galland, "one of the finest fighter pilots the world has ever seen".

By the time he was killed in a flying accident in September 1942, Marseille had shot down 158 enemy aircraft, most of them in North Africa in an amazing sixteen month period.

Another member of JG27 and flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 "F" Marseille reached the zenith of his flying career when on September 1, 1942 he shot down 17 enemy aircraft during 3 combat sorties in a 24 hour period! This unique and memorable feat earned him "The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds".

During his all-too short career in North Africa he flew four different Bf 109 F models and it is one of these K&C has chosen to portray.

This particular one features the colourful partly blood red tail complete with "kill" markings and light weathering.

Just 999 of this very special STRICLY LIMITED "Jochen" Marseille Bf 109 are being produced. It comes with a detailed (and numbered) summary of Marseille's career and in a specially-designed box.

It is sure to be a much sought-after piece and will fit into any "Desert War" collection. A standing figure of Marseille is also, of course, included.

"Afrika Korps Kubelwagen"
Yet another much-requested addition to our Desert series... The desert Kubelwagen. This great looking little run-around sports the special bulbous desert tires and has an MG34 machine gun pole mounted in the centre of the vehicle. A seated driver and assorted equipment can be seen as well.

The perfect way to get around the desert (or a desert airfield).

"Afrika Korps Airfield Hut"
Obviously, one of the Allied Quonset/Nissen Huts obtained as a "spoil of war" by the Germans and put to good practical use!

"Afrika Korps Volkswagen"

The third of our "Series 250" VW's. This version has, again, a roofrack full of extra supplies of ammunition, fuel and water. In addition a swastika emblazoned flag has been attached to the roof for easy aircraft recognition.

"Carro Armato M13/40 Afrika Korps Version"

The final version of the M13/40 from this "Series 250" group is the Afirka Korps version... Although all German forces usually much preferred their own weapons and vehicles in North Africa, because of constant lack of resupply, Rommels's men made much use of both captured Allied fighting vehicles and, on occasion, Italian... This particular M13/40 comes with an AK commander and carrying German recognition signs.

"Afrika Korps Feldgendarme"

The ubiquitous "chained dogs" get everywhere... even North Africa!
K&C's single figure is dressed in typical AK attire topped off with German-style "Solar Topee" (sun helmet).

"AK Captured Morris CS8 15cwt. Truck" (Series 250)Truck still in its 8th Army colour scheme but with prominently displayed German crosses on the sides and on top of the engine.

"AK Officer with Schmeisser"

Wearing his AK greatcoat to fend off the desert chill this officer is about to fire a burst from his machine pistol...

"AK Rifle Section"

Two more greatcoat-clad infantrymen with rifles.

"AK Grenadier"

"AK Machine Gunner"

Difficult but not impossible... this gunner fires his magazine- fed MG34 from the hip.

"AK Observation Team"

This two-man set of officer and NCO... One observes the enemy position... the other uses the field telephone to call in an artillery or mortar strike.

"British Prisoner"

For this dejected Tommy a POW cage looms up!

"Panzerjager 1"

Based on a Panzer 1 tank chassis this self-propelled gun mounts a 4.7 cm Czech-made Skoda gun and was the first German tank destroyer of WW2.
Our model comes with a standing crewman.
SPECIAL NOTE: A field-grey version will be released later in the year.

AK085

Available February!

"Daimler Dingo Armoured Car (Afrika Korps version)" Series 250

As most AK collectors already know Rommel's forces were always drastically short of men, vehicles and supplies. However they were very adept at making much use of captured enemy vehicles, weapons and equipment whenever and wherever they could lay their hands on them...
This former British vehicles although well-used and battle-weary has received large, prominent German crosses painted on it as well as a Nazi swastika flag pinned on top of its rear engine cover for aircraft recognition purposes.
The model also includes an Afrika Korps driver as well as a separate MG34 machine gun.

AK086

Available February!

"General Ludwig Cruwell"

Ludwig Cruwell was a senior Afrika Korps general under Erwin Rommel. Awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves for bravery, he was captured by the British when his spotter plane mistook British troops for Italian soldiers and landed near them by mistake.

AK087

Available February!

"AK Photographer"

This AK soldier captures a "moment in time".

AK088

Available February!

"AK Feldwebel"

AK089

Available February!

"AK Hot and Thirsty"

This panzer officer is feeling the heat!

AK090

Available February!

"AK Rifleman"